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MINUTES
– MORRIS CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING – APRIL 24, 2007
The
regular meeting of the Morris City Council was called to order at 8:30 a.m.
this 24th day of April, 2007, by Mayor Giese in the Auditorium of
the Morris Area High School.
PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of
Allegiance was recited.
ROLL
CALL: Roll call was taken with
the following members present:
Council member Carrington, Webster, Miller, Storck and Mayor Giese. Also present was City Manager Larson,
Finance Director Krosschell, City Engineer/Surveyor/Inspector Fier and Police
Chief Beauregard.
READING
AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 4/10/07
Regular Meeting Minutes: Council
member Webster moved, seconded by Carrington, to approve the 4/10/07 regular
meeting minutes. Motion carried.
4/10/07
Condensed Version: Council
member Storck moved, seconded by Miller, to approve the 4/10/07 condensed
version minutes. Motion carried.
4/12/07
Board of Review: Council
member Carrington moved, seconded by Webster, to approve the 4/12/07 board of
review minutes. Motion carried.
AUDIT
OF CITY BILLS: Council member Miller
moved, seconded by Webster, to authorize payment of the City bills dated April
24, 2007. Motion carried.
CITIZEN’S
COMMENTS: None
PETITIONS,
REQUEST AND COMMUNICATIONS: Child
Abuse Prevention Proclamation:
Mayor
Giese signed a proclamation in recognition of April being Child Abuse
Prevention Month.
SCMC
Administrative Report: Council
member Storck moved, seconded by Webster, to accept the March administrative
report from SCMC. Motion carried.
HRA
Meeting Minutes, 3/20/07:
Council member Webster moved, seconded by Carrington, to accept the
3/20/07 HRA meeting minutes.
Motion carried.
Miss
Midwest/Miss Morris Scholarship Donation: Council member Storck moved, seconded by Webster, to
authorize a donation of $300 to the Miss Midwest Scholarship Program. Motion carried.
Offer
to Purchase Land: City Manager
Larson stated Donny Wohlers has approached the city and made an inquiry about
purchasing the parcel of land the city owns behind his building to be used as a
parking lot for the Old #1. Larson
explained there was a home there at one time that burnt down. The lot is 25’ x 140’. Wohlers has offered to purchase the
land for $1,500. Larson indicated
the land must be sold via ordinance.
Council
member Storck stated he had a problem selling the land without soliciting for
bids, but noted he appreciated Wohlers’ submitting a bid. Webster asked if there was a
MINUTES
– MORRIS CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING – APRIL 24, 2007
Offer
to Purchase Land: (continued)
way to
find out the fair market value of the property so a minimum bid could be placed
on it. Larson indicated an inquiry
could be made to the County Assessor’s office for a value on the land. Larson stated the council could reject
any and all bids. Council member
Miller noted it would be nice to get the property back on the tax rolls.
Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Webster, to table this item with a directive
to solicit sealed bids for the sale of the vacant lot at 7 East 4th
Street with bids to be opened on May 18th. Furthermore, to find the appraised value of the property
from the county. Voting was as
follows:
Council
member Carrington aye
Council
member Webster aye
Council
member Miller aye
Council
member Storck aye
Mayor
Giese aye
With all
voting in favor, motion carried.
Mayor
Giese asked if a conditional use permit would be needed to make the area into a
parking lot. Larson noted that is
something he would have to check on.
Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Council member Miller, to acknowledge receipt of the
letter from Donny Wohlers and direct that a response be sent thanking him for
his offer. Motion carried.
State
Gambling Reports: Council
member Carrington moved, seconded by Storck, to accept the gambling reports from
the Eagles, Met Lounge and West Central Trailblazers. Motion carried.
ORDINANCES
AND RESOLUTIONS: Resolution
to Enter into Agreement with MN DOT:
City Engineer Fier indicated this is the project that Sue Granger spoke
with the council about at their February 13th meeting. This resolution would authorize the
city to enter into an agreement with MN DOT for reimbursement of the trees that
will be planted along Hwy 28 from McDonald’s to the Armory. Fier indicated a condition of the grant
is that the city maintain the trees for three years and over $4,000 has been
raised for watering and maintenance of the trees. Fier noted if this works well the group hopes to do the same
thing from the Armory to the intersection of Hwy 59 and then Hwy 9 the year
after that.
Fier
stated there will be state representatives on site when the trees are delivered
to take a look at them. Cross
Nursery was the low bidder for the trees.
Fier indicated there are eight additional property owners that have
purchased 40 additional trees for the area.
Mayor
Giese indicated it would be nice to have most of the city council help with
this project on Saturday, May 5th. Giese indicated they will either be meeting at McDonald’s or
the Jehovah Witness Church.
MINUTES
– MORRIS CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING – APRIL 24, 2007
Resolution
to Enter into Agreement with MN DOT: (continued)
Council
member Miller moved, seconded by Storck, to adopt Resolution #2707-4-07,
Resolution to Enter Into an Agreement with MN DOT. Voting was as follows:
Council
member Webster aye
Council
member Carrington aye
Council
member Storck aye
Council
member Miller aye
Mayor
Giese aye
With all
voting in favor, motion carried.
Resolution
Adopting Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy: Finance Director Krosschell stated that the Federal Transit
Administration has reduced the random drug testing rate from 50% to 25% and
since the city’s policy referenced the 50%, it needs to be amended. Krosschell noted the new policy removes
any reference to a specific testing rate.
Krosschell indicated it is mainly a technical item and doesn’t change
the overall policy.
Council
member Webster asked what initiated the reduction. Krosschell stated it was basically just good results. Larson pointed out this change just
covers transit operations.
Mayor
Giese moved, seconded by Council member Webster, to adopt Resolution #2708-4-07,
Resolution Adopting the City of Morris – Morris Transit – Drug and Alcohol
Testing Policy. Voting was as
follows:
Council
member Miller aye
Council
member Storck aye
Council
member Carrington aye
Council
member Webster aye
Mayor
Giese aye
With all
voting in favor, motion carried.
Resolution
Accepting Bid for Spray Park:
Cindy Perkins was present at the meeting on behalf of the Park Board. Perkins indicated the bid received is
for a spray park with twelve omni pad features, with the ability to add two
more at a later date. Perkins
stated they hope to have the park up and running by Prairie Pioneer Days.
Larson
stated one bid was received for the construction of the spray park from
Landwehr Construction for $138,812.73.
Perkins noted a couple of items that they are looking at which are not
included in the costs are colored cement, rather than gray, and a sidewalk area
around the park.
Larson
informed the council that Jim Dittbenner met with Bob Valnes and the well at
the park is still usable. Larson
stated the water will be changed twice a week and be recirculated and
chlorinated.
Perkins
stated they are continuing to work on donations and hope to receive some
revenues from the sale of park land and use existing money from the camping
fees.
MINUTES
– MORRIS CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING – APRIL 24, 2007
Resolution
Accepting Bid for Spray Park: (continued)
Perkins
indicated there are some groups that have pledged to do some fundraising as
well. Perkins stated they hope to
get a loan from the city to put against future camping monies to make up the
difference needed. Larson noted
there is currently $105,000 in the dedicated camping fund so the project is
possible from a financing standpoint.
Larson
stated the city plans to mill up the road at the park and repave the parking
lot this year as well. Perkins noted
that it is not required to have lifeguards on duty at the spray park. Council member Carrington asked about
the status of the old swimming hole.
Larson indicated the hole is gradually being filled in with spoil from
street projects. Storck noted in the
future that would make a nice camping area as well. Council member Webster asked about the maintenance of the
spray park. Perkins gave the
council a copy of a schedule from the company with regard to maintenance. Perkins suggested possibly the C.S.O.
from the Police Department check on it on a daily basis. Police Chief Beauregard stated the
C.S.O. typically spends a lot of time out there so that is something they could
do. Perkins stated the water would
need to be shut on and off each day.
Council
member Carrington moved, seconded by Webster, to adopt Resolution #2709-4-07,
Resolution Accepting Bid for Spray Park at PDT. Voting was as follows:
Council
member Storck aye
Council
member Miller aye
Council
member Webster aye
Council
member Carrington aye
Mayor
Giese aye
With all
voting in favor, motion carried.
CITY
MANAGER’S REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS: Statutory Liability Limit: Council member Storck moved, seconded by Webster, to not
waive the statutory liability limit for the city’s insurance renewal. Motion carried.
2/20/07
Planning Commission Minutes:
Council member Webster moved, seconded Miller, to accept the 2/20/07
planning commission minutes.
Motion carried.
Delinquent
Water Bill List: The following
list of delinquent water bills was presented to the council:
Brian
Moser 101
West 4th Street 145.95
Robert
Peterson 108
West 5th Street 83.67
Ann
Trapp 311
West 6th Street 71.10
Glen
Ward 205
West 6th Street 94.86
Rodney
Giese 205
West 6th Street 44.48
Scott
Heins 208
West 6th Street 159.90
LeAnn
Love 400
West 6th Street 107.79
Lane
Lesmeister 505
West 6th Street 20.70
Chuck
Gorres 707
Lyndale Avenue 68.24
Jared
Brandt 719
Lyndale Avenue 123.93
Todd
Hickman 714
Lyndale Avenue 99.42
MINUTES
– MORRIS CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING – APRIL 24, 2007
Delinquent Water Bill List:
(continued)
Eric
Bungarden 707
Pacific Avenue 105.22
Ron
Davis 404
West 7th Street 162.66
Thomas
Bengston 715
Wyoming Avenue 95.83
Jamie
Swenson 314
West 8th Street 75.38
Marty
Pelkey 311
West 9th Street 117.41
Anna
Crummie 817
Pacific Avenue 147.06
Nichole
Giese 203
West 11th Street 88.33
Rodney
Giese 114
West 11th Street 68.24
James
Cotter 909
Park Avenue 164.26
Sharon
Dohlen 1009
Albany Avenue 20.70
Carl
Moser 1001
West 4th Street 128.41
Melberg
Morris 116
Atlantic Avenue 60.15
Council member Storck moved,
seconded by Webster, to follow the usual procedure of turning off the water at
the above locations until the bill has been paid. Motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS: Broadcast of Council Meetings: Council member Webster stated he talked
with Roger Boleman at the University about broadcasting council meetings. Webster presented the council with a schematic
of how the equipment would need to be set up. The equipment needed would cost between $2,000 and
$3,000. Larson stated according to
the franchise agreement the only equipment the cable companies are required to
provide is what the city already has.
Miller asked about getting a grant for the equipment. Giese suggested checking into the “Get
Broadband” grant possibilities.
Webster indicated the next step is to pursue funding and figure out who
would run and maintain the system for broadcasts.
League Conference: Mayor Giese reminded the council of the
LMC conference being held June 27-29 in Duluth.
Resignation: City Manager Larson presented Mayor
Giese with his letter of resignation from his position as City Manager,
effective June 30, 2007.
Larson suggested appointing an ad
hoc committee to assist the council in the hiring process. This committee would screen applicants,
set goals and objectives and help in the interview process. Larson also suggested having Kevin
Frazell from the LMC attend a meeting to help the council in this process. Larson estimated it would take 2
½ to 3 months to fill the position. Larson stated he feels this isn’t an entry level position
and in his opinion whoever is hired should have experience.
Larson noted there are a lot of
issues facing a new city manager such as the old elementary school, the five
year capital improvement plan and the possibility of adding another primary
treatment cell for the water treatment plant.
It was the consensus of the council
to hold a worksession at 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday, May 2nd in the City
Hall conference room. Each member
of the council is to come up with a list of names to present for the hiring
committee.
MINUTES
– MORRIS CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING – APRIL 24, 2007
Resignation:
(continued)
Council
member Storck suggested Deputy Clerk Anderson fill in as City Manager in the
interim and that it would be a conflict of interest for Finance Director
Krosschell to do so.
ORDINANCES
AND RESOLUTIONS (Continued): Resolution
Providing for the Sale of the City’s G.O. Improvement Bonds and Levying a Tax
for Payment: Mark Ruff of
Ehlers and Associates was present at the meeting to discuss the bond sale. Ruff stated these bonds are being used
to fund the West 6th Street project. Ruff indicated the term of the bond would be for fifteen
years and is similar to those sold by the city last year.
Ruff
stated the city has an A3 rating which is very good. Ruff noted Moody’s gave a positive indication on the city’s
financial position, noting that the fact that the city relies heavily on state
aids makes them a little nervous but it is offset by healthy reserves.
Ruff
stated seven bids were received with Wells Fargo coming in the lowest with a rate
of 4.06%. Ruff explained that last
year at this time a bond was let with an interest rate of 4.21% so the market is
good. Ruff suggested that an
interest rate of 4.1% be inserted in the first paragraph on page 2 of the
resolution. Ruff stated even
though the bid was lower than that it allows for any unforeseen costs. Ruff indicated the closing date on the
bonds is May 17th.
Council
member Carrington moved, seconded by Miller, to adopt Resolution #2710-4-07,
Resolution Providing for the Issuance and Sale of $1,290,000 G.O. Improvement
Bonds, Series 2007A, Pledging for the Security Thereof Special Assessments and
Levying a Tax for the Payment Thereof.
Voting was as follows:
Council
member Carrington aye
Council
member Webster aye
Council
member Miller aye
Council
member Storck aye
Mayor
Giese aye
With all
voting in favor, motion carried.
OLD
BUSINESS: Inspection of Dilapidated
Houses: Larson updated the
council on the status of the hazardous buildings. Larson indicated there has been a meeting set up for May 8th
for the house on East 7th.
There is a meeting scheduled for Monday with Gerald Gau. With regard to the Ransone house, a
letter has been sent to the attorney and trustee asking if they would be
willing to sell the property to the city.
INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS: Revenue &
Expenditure Report: This was
informational for the council.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Mayor
Giese adjourned the meeting at 9:41 p.m.
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